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Wikipedia / Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation

The Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation ( or MKE for short), established in 1950, is a reorganization of government-controlled group of factories in Turkey that supplied the Turkish Armed Forces with military products.

History

Its roots lie in the "Tophane-i Amire" ("Royal Arsenal") built in the latter part of the 15th Century to supply the Ottoman Empire's artillery corps with cannon, powder, and shot. This was reorganized in 1832 as the "Tophane Müşavirliği" ("Arsenal of Ordnance and Artillery Marshalship") and was later formed in a department of "Harbiye Nezareti" (Ministry of War) in 1908. After World War I and the following Turkish War of Independence, it was reorganized as the "General Directorate of Military Factories" in 1923. Today, the MKE is made up of 12 facilities that employ 7,430 personnel. The first produced rifle was Mauser Model M1938 (along with 'Enfauser' Lee–Enfield/Mauser hybrids) and the first pistol was Walther PP, both known as 'Kırıkkale'.

Legal status

The company's legal status has changed from state-owned enterprise to a corporation, with the Law Nr. 7330 dated July 3, 2021.

Products

The corporation mainly produces equipment for the Turkish Armed Forces, such as the ammunition for small arms and heavy weapons, artillery systems, aerial bombs, miness, explosives, and rockets. MKEK also manufactures civil-purpose products such as steel, brass, and electrical parts and equipment. Its large range of defense industry products are not only demanded in Turkey, but are exported to more than 40 countries worldwide.

In 2011, the company has sold military products to 29 countries worldwide. MKE decided to increase its production capacity by investing $818 million in Ankara and Kırıkkale in 2025. The first smoothbore gun for Altay main battle tank was introduced in 2011.

Production groups:

  • Ammunition Group

  • Rocket Group

  • Weapons Group

  • Explosives, Propellants, and Pyrotechnic Products Group

Company and factories: there are 11 factories and 1 company affiliated with MKE located in three major manufacturing hubs:

Kırıkkale

  • Ammunition Factory

  • Brass Factory

  • Heavy Weapons Factory And Steel Foundry

  • Explosives Factory

  • Small-Arms Weapons Factory (Kırıkkale Arsenal Co.)

Ankara

  • Explosive & Propellant Factory

  • Machinery and Gas-Mask Factory MAKSAM

  • Pyrotechnics Factory

  • Scrap Recycling Plant

  • Small-Arms Ammunition Factory

Çankırı

  • Medium-Caliber Weapons Factory

İzmit

  • Scrap Recycling Plant

MKE Maksam Machine and Mask Factory

MKE Maksam ( or MAKSAM for short) was founded in 1920. The company's line of business includes the manufacturing of surgical appliances and supplies also CBRN masks and products, various masks are produced for the army and civilians. During COVID-19 pandemic Maksam produced millions of Surgical Mask, FFP3 Type Mask, Protective Coverall, Goggles Type A-B, Face Protection Visor Type C, Protective Gloves, Panoramic Mask Set, P13 Plastic Strainer and MKE Surgical Mask Production Machines.

SAHRA Mechanical Respirator

Apart from masks and protective equipment, SAHRA Mechanical Respirator was produced by making use of local and national facilities in order to provide basic respiratory support to COVID-19 patients. SAHRA is ready for mass production by the end of May 2020 and has a weekly production capacity of 500 pieces.

Aircraft

Vehicles

Engineering and Ammunition Resupply Vehicles

Weapons

Small arms

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Artillery/Rockets/Missiles

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Protective gear

Museums of the MKE

Sports clubs associated with the MKE

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References